Comments by "L.W. Paradis" (@l.w.paradis2108) on "Gravitas Plus: Do you regret your college degree and your choice of subject? Watch this." video.

  1. To be honest, most political science majors go on to get a MPA (Master's in Public Administration) or a JD (law degree). A few might go back for psychology at night for a while, then become MSWs, and a few will get MBAs. The mistake is not to minor in math and learn statistics like a fiend. Then you can go and do anything. Everyone needs you for social science research. Or, you can even do your Master's in applied maths. The only problem with poli sci is that it is not a terminal degree; you've got two or three more years to go. :/
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  2.  @ribanbiangsuchiang1193  In the US, all the better schools offer only the MSW (Master's). You can become a licensed therapist in just about every state in the US with an MSW and appropriate clinicals. That takes some time to make money, but money you will make, and it is not a job you'll need to retire from in your 50s. You can do it part-time through 70 and beyond, which is now the realistic age for Social Security benefits.
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  3. Exactly. If you pick something you have no affinity for, you will be competing with people who love what they do, when you can barely tolerate it, and expect to be successful and happy. It won't happen.
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  4. I think we all redo our lives. I actually believe in reincarnation, and no, it is not self-serving. Hardly. I want off the merry-go-round when the time comes. When I've earned it.
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  5.  @ToThoseWhoVanished  I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds like a mood. Get some more sleep, and talk to yourself before you fall asleep to tell yourself that you will have a real good dream. I'm not saying that will change the facts, because nothing can, but it might change what happens to you in the future. You might not see what new chances you still have. These past few years have been hell.
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  6.  @ToThoseWhoVanished  I was just trying to be nice to you. My mistake. You had a secret way to avoid the pandemic hysteria? Cool. Do tell. Just kidding. Your views are not of interest. Blocked.
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  7. ​ @ribanbiangsuchiang1193  You are very welcome! I would look for a program that allows you to complete the MSW in five years, and make sure it is geared toward licensing as a clinical social worker in as many states as possible, which will undoubtedly include working under psychologists and psychiatrists (possibly for very little pay at first). You will get to meet a lot of interesting people. Start out at a top teaching hospital, and later see about joining a group practice. It takes some time to get to a good salary, but you will see more and more opportunities open up as you advance. It is remarkable how many people now prefer to consult an MSW for counseling, because psychologists and psychiatrists are prohibitively expensive. A community college where I taught part time had MSWs do career and academic counseling. I'm not sure what their specialties were. They didn't have education degrees, but they did have some sort of specialization or advanced courses in educational psychology, and that sort of thing. Community college students often want to go to school for a few basics plus certification for a job, and stay only four or five semesters, so they need more active support for the short time they are there to make sure they get on the right track and finish on their timetable. They often cannot afford to go to school for longer than it takes to have vocational certification. Then, later in their careers, some MSWs get a law degree and work in juvenile justice or as guardians ad litem for minor children or incapacitated adults. Some just work with divorce lawyers as social workers, without a law degree -- there is a movement for "ethical divorce," meaning the attorney never takes a case before making sure the couple cannot reconcile. Those lawyers usually have an MSW on staff. They don't push counseling since that is not their role, but they do have the social worker do one or two interviews as part of the intake process, especially when there are young kids involved. If the woman needs emergency housing or could be in danger, it's good to have her talk to a social worker right there, rather than sending her elsewhere. It's a flexible field with close ties to medicine and law and lots of interesting work.
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